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Tag Archives: Lorna Jane

For my 9-5 job, I wear a LOT of black and white. It’s simple, it’s professional, it’s…sigh…kind of boring (or so my younger sister tells me). However, I put the more stark looks to the side when I get dressed to work out, often opting for a pair of boldly patterned pants or capris. Pattern pants have been en vogue for a while now, and there is no shortage of styles to choose from! I own everything from floral motifs to cosmic explosions. They’re my favorite to pull out when getting dressed for an early morning workout. Nothing like says “6 AM” like sparkly stretchies!

I literally went from the girl who owned two simple sports bras (black and white, the same style from American Eagle) to the girl who has a full drawer of crops exploding with color! Lately, I’ve been loving longer, crop-top style sports bras because I can wear them to spin class without a shirt on top. I also love to pick sports bras with bold patterns that peek through slouchy tanks.

I can’t resist a good barre joke. Let’s face it, you need something to make you laugh as you stare into the mirror, teeth gritted, fighting for those final ten counts in thigh work! Plain tops?! Come on now, don’t tuck with me like that 🙂

I love Lorna Jane and her collection of ultra-feminine workout wear. Taking the top spot in her shop for me are her inspirational tanks. In line with her Move Nourish Believe motto, they remind me to never, never, never give up while giving my workout all that I’ve got!

As a Pure Barre instructor, I am always excited to see new clothing pop up in my studio’s store. Since the fall, I’ve been obsessed with the Splits 59 by Pure Barre collection. It’s a special collaboration that can only be found at Pure Barre studios or on PureBarre.com. My favorite piece of the collection, hands down, is the Erid tight. I own them in black, grey, and this season’s new navy.

Some people would disagree, but the Type-A in me just loves a well-coordinated look. I like to find ways to match my sneakers to my pants, my Lily and Laura bracelets to my tanks, even my socks to my headband! Feeling put together from head to toe makes me feel like I am on top of the world!

It’s amazing how making a few small changes to your workout routine can make such a big difference. For me, wireless headphones were a game changer–no longer do I get tangled up in the cords! That was a pricier change, but there are plenty of products I’ve found costing under $20 that have forever changed my workouts for good. Here are 5 of my favorites.

I know, spending $16 for a pair of underoos sounds crazy. But these thongs are ridiculously comfortable, leave no visible panty lines, and come in simple solid colors and fun prints, like this camouflage pair.

I have extremely thick, hard to manage hair. In the past when working out, I’d use 2 thick hair ties to keep my hair in place, and it still ended up falling out–usually just a few minutes into my workout. These hair toggles really grip your hair and keep it firmly in place. I can now make it through an hour-long power yoga sequence without worrying about my hair flopping into my face during downward dog.

In addition to being untamable by hair tie, my hair (or maybe my head) tends to repel headbands. I’ve purchased countless bands to try, but only Sparkly Soul has stood up to the task of staying put. They come in tons of colors, and add a fun touch to any workout outfit. I’m in love.

I hate when my socks fall down during a workout, but I also hate socks that stick out ridiculously far from my shoes and rub me the wrong way. These socks strike the perfect balance–they are comfortable and remain perfectly hidden. I have them in black and white, and they also come in a nude shade.

As usual, I want to help you start the week off with some motivation. Have you ever had a bad day? I’m guessing the answer is yes. I’m even willing to wager that a few of you are having a bad day today—it is Monday, after all. I’ve had my fair share of bad ways. Some have been bad for silly reasons, and I’ve woken up the next day already forgetting the cause of my bad mood the day before. Others have been so bad that they’ve stuck around for awhile. Once we find ourselves stuck in a bad day rut, it can be hard to get out of it. Here are some of my favorite ways to remind myself to find the silver lining in cloud-filled situations.

Sweat it out: Okay, you had to know this one was coming. This is a fitness blog! But while I typically enjoy hitting the gym or a class to get my workout on, when I’m in a bad mood one of my favorite ways to move is an outdoor run. There is something about breathing in the fresh air and taking in my surroundings that helps to calm me down. Even in the winter, I’ll bundle up and take a quick jog around the neighborhood when I need to clear my mind.

Talk about it: When I’m frustrated, it is so easy to shut myself away from the rest of the world. I want to be angry, and I want to be angry by myself…because if I talk to someone, chances are they’re going to help me see the good in a bad situation. They’re going to encourage me to keep my chin up and move forward. And even when all I want to do is curl up into an angry ball and throw a pity party for myself, I force myself to talk through situations with my parents, my sister, my girlfriends, or my boyfriend. Their advice is always spot-on, even when I don’t feel like I’m ready to take it.

Treat yourself: I’m a bit of a shopaholic. I know that I get a little endorphin rush whenever I click the “buy” button on my favorite website. It is a weakness of mine that I have to keep in check, but I budget a certain amount of “fun money” for myself each month. When I’m feeling down, I’ll treat myself to a new book or small gift to bring a smile to my face. I’m not advocating going on huge shopping sprees whenever you’re having a bad day, but a small treat can be a great mood booster.

Eat healthy foods: The struggle is REAL when it comes to pigging out on junk food when I’m feeling sad. But I’ve noticed that giving in doesn’t make me feel better at all after the initial food coma wears off. I typically feel sluggish or sick after eating food that I’m not used to, and end up breaking out a few days later as well. Not worth it! I try to have some go-to healthy comfort foods: freshly brewed tea, smoothies, a savory egg dish, or fruit.

Remind yourself that it’s a bad day, not a bad life: Perspective is one of the most important things that I try to remind myself of. I try to gauge things by the “facebook laugh-o-meter”: If I posted what was making me upset on facebook, would people laugh at me? If the answer is yes, it’s time to put things in perspective. It’s not the end of the world to scuff a pair of shoes. It isn’t going to kill me if I don’t win my next pageant. My life is still an incredible one, and I should transform my negative feelings into positive action: helping those around me whose bad days are far more troubling than my own.

I’m a student, a research consultant, a Zumba addict and recently minted instructor, a beginning runner, a lover of yoga, a fitness fashionista, a beauty-product junkie, and a voracious reader.You can read more here